Eat Like a Bird: Trail Mix Cookies

Welcome to my obligatory January post about eating "healthy". This is ironic since this is, of course, a baking blog.  It also comes so late in the month that I think most people are over the always needed Christmas detox mentality.  But i'll sprinkle some of that in here to make us feel better ourselves.

These cookies are all about eating like a bird.  You can take that to mean many things. They are trail mix cookies -- which means it's a bunch of random things that birdies (or you) may like.  Sunflower seeds.  Almonds.  Oats.  Raisins. Chocolate chips.  Pretzels.  Birds would eat all that, right?   Or you can take it to mean, eat like a bird -- very little.  A few pieces of each ingredient are all that are in each of these cookies.  But how do birds actually eat?  All day long.  A mammoth amount compared to their body size.  Much like the frequency and quantity of baked goods that I consume in a day.   So really, the meaning is probably found in that last option.  Eat all the cookies.  All day long.  

The raisins and the chocolate chips make these cookies sweet, the pretzels and the sunflower makes them a little salty.  Part cookie, part trail mix bar really.   Part good for you?

Trail Mix Cookies

Makes 28, bake at 350* for 9 minutes.

1 cup flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder 

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup oats

1 cup raisins

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup almonds

1 cup dark chocolate chips

1 cup pretzels

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl whisk flour, baking soda and powder, cinnamon and salt and set aside.

2. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.

3. Add in egg and vanilla and beat until fully incorporated.

4. Add flour to sugar mixture slowly and beat on medium until it forms a dough. 

5. Fold in oats, raisins, sunflower seeds, almonds and chocolate chips into dough.

6. Using a medium sized cookie scoop, scoop out balls of dough and place onto baking sheet.  

7.  Break pretzels into small pieces and place on top of balls. (If you mix them in when you fold in the rest of the ingredients they will break.)

8.  Bake in preheated oven for around 9 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cook on rack. 

Truth be told, I had to make these bad boys twice.  The first time was a fail. The next two weeks I would frown to myself whenever I thought about them.  The second time I excitedly Instagrammed them with the #cookieredemption hashtag.   

If you use a small or a medium sized cookie scoop, they will fit into the mouth of a mason jar.  You can screw on the lid and give them away.  Cookies make the perfect present after all. 

If they are too big to fit, force them in anyways.  Make it work, 'cuz everything is cuter in a mason jar with a ribbon tied around it.  

Also since it's fake spring in California  (no rain in months, sunshine and 70* in January), these bright blue birdies make me feel extra happy.  It's like a jar of sunshine.  

xoxo,

Anna